Will McDonald's Grimace Shake Return in 2024? Here's What We Know So Far

After its viral success in 2023, McDonald's fans are eagerly wondering if the Grimace Shake will return to U.S. menus in 2024. Though it has reappeared internationally this year, McDonald's has yet to confirm plans for a U.S. relaunch, leaving fans hopeful for its return.

McDonald's Grimace Shake Sparked Viral Fame in 2023—Fans Eager for Its Potential 2024 Return

Over the past year, McDonald's has kept its menu exciting with various new items, from the Chicken Big Mac to the Big Arch burger. However, none have captured public attention, like the Grimace Shake, a limited-edition purple dessert that went viral in 2023 due to a strange TikTok trend.

McDonald's customers have been eagerly wondering if the Grimace Shake will return in 2024 after its wildly successful debut. The shake first appeared in June 2023 as part of a Grimace Birthday Meal, celebrating the beloved purple McDonald's mascot. Though McDonald's was intentionally vague about the flavor, many customers described it as tasting like vanilla with a hint of berry.

The shake quickly gained viral fame when TikTok creators began posting videos pretending to suffer horror movie-like "deaths" after taking a sip. The trend exploded, with some videos racking up millions of likes and views, and even celebrities like Courteney Cox got in on the fun. McDonald's acknowledged the trend in a playful June 27 post on X (formerly Twitter), showing Grimace with the caption, "meee pretending i don't see the grimace shake trendd." Guillaume Huin, McDonald's USA social media director, later admitted that the company was initially unsure how to respond but eventually embraced the "brilliant creativity, unfiltered fun," and "peak absurdist Gen Z humor" behind the trend.

Grimace Shake Returns Internationally in 2024, but U.S. Fans Await News of Its Comeback

The Grimace Shake has not returned to U.S. menus since 2023, it made international appearances in 2024. In May, the shake launched in Canada for a limited time, followed by a brief one-week stint in the United Kingdom in late August to celebrate McDonald's 50th anniversary there. Most recently, McDonald's brought the Grimace Shake to Australia in early October, offering it both a la carte and as part of a Grimace Meal that includes fries and a choice between a Big Mac or 10-piece Chicken McNuggets.

Despite the international reappearances, McDonald's has yet to announce plans to bring the Grimace Shake back to the United States in 2024. Attempts to reach the chain for comment were unsuccessful, leaving American fans waiting and hoping for a potential relaunch. In the meantime, U.S. customers can look forward to other seasonal offerings, such as the returning Boo Buckets and Pumpkin and Crème Pie.